McNeese State Dominates Central Arkansas to Earn Spot in Dance
By Brandon C. Williams
Southland.org
KATY, Texas - The team considered as an afterthought in October now reigns atop the Southland Conference.
McNeese State capped off its remarkable turnaround from last season's 7-22 mark with a 71-50 win over Central Arkansas on Friday night that clinched the women's tournament title for the Cowgirls (26-6) along with an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
"I'm not sure if there are words to describe it," said McNeese State coach Brooks Donald Williams.
Words could not properly describe the opening moments of the second half, where McNeese used the first 6:19 to floor the Sugar Bears (21-11), who were making their first trip to the championship game in their initial year of eligibility.
Tournament Most Valuable Player Ashlyn Baggett keyed the decisive run, scoring nine of her game-high 23 points during a 17-5 run that turned a 37-26 halftime lead into a 54-31 mountain that Central Arkansas was unable to climb.
"It just felt like every shot was going in for them," said Central Arkansas coach Matt Daniel.
The Sugar Bears jumped to an early 6-4 lead behind consecutive treys from all-Tournament performer Desiree Rogers, but relinquished the edge for good when Baggett hit a 3-pointer at the 16:04 mark.
Central Arkansas would get within 18-14 with 9:40 left in the first half, but could not match baskets against a Cowgirls team that shot 57 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
Much of McNeese's offensive success came from the defensive work against Southland player of the year Megan Herbert. Herbert, who had a combined 35 points and 24 rebounds in two prior meetings against the Cowgirls, was held to just 13 points and six rebounds before fouling out in the final three minutes.
"It was a team effort," said McNeese State forward Kendra Wells, who added nine points and 13 rebounds en route to being named to the all-tournament squad. "We decided that we weren't going to let her get on a role offensively."
Fellow all-tournament member Caitlyn Baggett had 15 points, six assists and four rebounds while also helping hold Sugar Bears guards Rogers, Nakeia Guiden and Micah Rice to a combined 11 points.
The loss will probably not conclude the season for UCA, which should be in strong consideration for a spot in either the Women's National Invitational Tournament or the Women's Basketball Invitational.
"I'm hoping we haven't played our last game," said Daniel, who will return all but two players next season. "I think we have a good product to watch and a group of players that deserve it."
For McNeese State, a year of agony and uncertainty has evolved into the biggest moment in the program's 35-year history.
Despite the frustration that defined the 2009-10 season, Williams knew her squad was capable of great things.
"It's a special group that came together as a team over the summer," she said. "This is group of fighters that have fought all year long. I'm proud of what they've accomplished."
The Cowgirls will savor the victory over the weekend before finding out their opening round destination when the NCAA women's bracket is unveiled on Monday night.
Be it the likes of women's college basketball powers Connecticut, Baylor or Tennessee, Williams and McNeese await the next chapter of what has been a magical season.
"They'll be ready for the next challenge," she said.
2011 All-Tournament Team:
Ashlyn Baggett, McNeese State (Most Valuable Player)
Caitlyn Baggett, McNeese State
Kendra Wells, McNeese State
Desiree' Rogers, Central Arkansas
Ashleigh Franklin, UTSA
McNeese State Quotes
Coach Brooks Donald Williams
Opening Statement: "Wow, I don't really have the words to describe this right now. It's the first time in McNeese State history that the Cowgirls have won this championship and go on into the NCAA tournament. I could not be more proud of our girls, they're just a special group. We knew this summer they were special, we didn't know where they would take us, but we are certainly proud they've taken us here. They are a group of fighters and they fought all year long to get here and I'm really proud of what they've accomplished."
After seven wins a year ago, did you expect to be here this season? "I'm stubborn and naïve and we have a lot of confidence in what we set out to do originally, that at the end of the day whatever happened, we knew we'd do things the right way. That's what makes this so special. We've always stuck to our guns, fundamentals and defense, and playing together as a team, we knew if we did those things, that special things could happen."
On Ashlyn and Caitlyn, sibling rivalry: "Well they fight every day. It's very much a sibling rivalry. That's we can do as coaches and players is pit one against the other, it's really fun because they get really mad and try to one-up the other. It's definitely special what Ashlyn and Caitlyn are capable of doing, but I think even more special is this whole team."
On coming NCAA tournament: "Right now we are certainly going to enjoy this moment and wait and see who we have up next. We'll focus on that later because this is a tough group and they'll accept the next challenge, who ever that may be."
Ashlyn Baggett
On run to open second half: "In the last two interviews we had after we beat Southeastern Louisiana and UTSA, we told ya'll we're a second half team. We know we're 20 minutes away from the final score. I guess because we started out so good, we just finished with the second half."
On tournament MVP: "I didn't even know they had a tournament MVP. I was just happy with the team trophy. The MVP trophy can go to the whole team, because we couldn't have done it without their defense. So if you want to give an MVP, give it to them."
Caitlyn Baggett
On when you knew McNeese had won the tournament: "I'd say around four minutes to go in the second half. I looked at the clock and went, 'Oh my gosh', we're about to win. We just need to protect the ball and we've done it."
Kendra Wells
On out rebounding UCA: "Just hard effort. We take a lot of pride as a team in rebounding and it's something we really take to heart. It was the game plan, we knew if we were able to out rebound them, we'd win."
On keeping Megan Herbert to four points in second half: "It was a team effort. We came together before the game and made the decision that we were going to keep her to a limited amount of points and not go off, and that's what we did."
Central Arkansas Quotes
Coach Matt Daniel
Opening Statement: "At the beginning of the year we put a jar in our dressing room full of rocks. The rocks represented everyday that we could possibly guarantee together through the conference tournament finals. Now obviously that's no guarantee otherwise I would have just enough rocks to end the regular season. Our goal was not to leave rocks in the jar and we accomplished our goal. We got out played tonight in every facet. They made more shots than we did. They had better free throw percentage, they had fewer turnovers, they executed better than we did and I don't think that we'll forget that. I'm not pleased with the way we played or even the effort that we gave. But I am pleased with the overall effort we gave this season and the things that we've been able to accomplish. I'm also hoping we haven't played our last game. I think we're under consideration for a couple of postseason tournaments. I think that we have a good product to watch and I think we have a group that deserves it."
On McNeese State offense: "It felt like they were kicking em' in. It felt like every shot was falling and I know that wasn't the case, but they shot a high percentage for the game. We missed a lot of easy shots and if you look at the point spread, we got beat by 21 points; they made 10 more field goals than we did. They out rebounded us by 10 and I'm not a big stats guy, I don't think they always tell the whole story, but they are a good indication of why the margin was what it was."
Megan Herbert
On overall tournament performance: "It's the conference tournament so you know everyone is going to give it their all. I knew I would have someone following me everywhere. My teammates stepped up those first two games and had my back. They were there for me and really helped us win those games. But today the overall effort wasn't there. We just weren't ready. Our effort was not enough to win a championship today."